Consumer Law

Michelin Abandons Its Pax Run-Flat Tire System

By Kemnitzer, Anderson, Barron, Ogilvie & Brewer

This is an update on the class actions this and other law firms have filed against Michelin and Honda concerning the "PAX" run-flat tires on the 2005-2007 Honda Odyssey Touring minivans and certain Acura RL models.

The cases involve Michelin's "PAX" run-flat tire system consisting of a special tire, support ring, wheel and tire presssure monitoring system. The PAX Systems have proven to be a disaster for consumers--the tires wear prematurely and replacements, which only available from Honda and Michelin dealers, are very expensive costing as much as $300 per tire. Many owners had a great deal of difficulty even finding a Honda or Michelin dealer that had the special equipment needed to replace a PAX tire.

In November 2007, Michelin announced it was throwing in the towel on the PAX System. According to a report in the trade presss, Michelin said it was ending research on PAX "because there is no big market development." Of course, this is a euphemistic way of saying the PAX system has been a failure.

The federal class actions have now been reassigned to a federal judge in the District of Maryland. A separate California state court action is pending in the Alameda County Superior Court on behalf of California owners.

Full post as published by Lemon Law Blog on February 29, 2008 (boomark / email).